This is intended to be a homage to very many musicians I've loved since I started listening to music. My intention is to tell what I know about them, hoping that those people who like them too, will help me fill numerous gaps, which I may have in their careers and discographies. Sorry, but there are no MP3 audio files here at all, just info (and love for the musicians).

Superb keyboardist (and a very skilled guitarist) with a classical education, Francis Monkman was a student studying organ and harpsichord at Westminster School, London, later studying at the Royal College of Music, London from 1967 and also becoming a member of the famous Academy of St Martin in the Field, London.

Francis was born Andrew Francis Kenneth Monkman on June 9th, 1949, at Hampstead, London, England.

Francis Monkman while in Curved Air

SISYPHUS

Francis Monkman´s first band was Sisyphus. Francis Monkman and bassist Rob Martin started playing together around 1968, and they were joined by Florian Pilkington-Miksa. Sometime later, they were joined by Darryl Way and a friend, and this was the first real lineup:

In the late fall of 1969, Sisyphus were asked by Galt McDermott (writer of the music for ´Hair´) to be the pit band for a play ´Who The Murderer Was?´, a sequel to ´Hair´. There was a recording of the music made at Landsdowne Studios, London.

In 1969, Nick Simon left the band, and they turned into Curved Air.

Other info on members of Sisyphus (I know up to 5 members)

To be covered (3):

Rob Martin, Florian Pilkington Miksa, Darryl Way

CURVED AIR

Francis Monkman in Curved Air, busy with both guitar and electronics

A superb band! The peculiar band name comes from a Terry Riley album, A rainbow in curved air. Around January 1970, Sonja Kristina joins, and the band starts its succesful career:

After a 3rd album, called Phantasmagoria, Francis, Darryl and Florian leave the band in October 1972. The band continued with Sonja a bit more (with Eddie Jobson), until finally splitting.

There is a live album, released in 1995, called Live at the BBC. It includes 13 tracks from three different concerts: April 1970 (3 tracks - with Rob Martin on bass), January 1971 (5 tracks - with Ian Eyre on bass) as well as 5 more tracks from January 1976, although, of course, Francis doesn't play in these tracks from 1976.

Francis Monkman and Mike Wedgood while in Curved Air

ROBERT WYATT BAND

In December 1972, the great Robert Wyatt (from Soft Machine, he had just dissolved his own band Matching Mole) recorded some tracks for BBC program Top Gear. He sang with the only backing by Francis Monkman.

They performed 3 tracks. Fortunately, one of these tracks can now be found, in the Flotsam and Jetsam (May 94, Rough Trade) album. This is a sort of compilation of rare tracks performed by Robert. It was sold with a book.

Wyatt and Monkman were supposed to keep on playing together, as a new lineup of Matching Mole, as we´re going to read.

For his album Come un vecchio incensiere all´alba di un villaggio deserto, recorded in London, he was surrounded by English musicians such as Francis Monkman and David Jackson (from Van Der Graaf Generator). They later agreed to make a tour with Alan in 1973:

801 was assembled in August 1976 by Phil Manzanera, who was guitarist in Roxy Music. Roxy band was ´frozen´ for a while, so Manzanera started this project. Originally intended to be only a live event, Manzanera has put different 801 lineups every time he wasn't too busy. But to me, their first lineup was really incredible:

They played three concerts: Cromer, Reading Festival, and Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, where they recorded the material for 801 Live, a fantastic album. In September 1976, the members were involved in their own projects. Manzanera joined Bryan Ferry Band (with Chris Mercer), Brian Eno kept on doing his solo thing, and Francis went to his new project.

a different promo photo for Sky. From left to right: Tristan Fry, Kevin Peek, Francis Monkman, Herbie Flowers and John Williams

Sky - Francis (just visible), behind Herbie Flowers

John Williams is a great classical guitarist who has a long discography. In the early 70s, he started making some mixtures between classical and rock in his albums, using great sessionmen. His second ´crossover´ album was Travelling, where Francis Monkman played, also playing the title track. The success was so big that they finally decided working as a stable band in 1978. The lineup was:

Probably, one of the bands with more perfect musical skills ever. All of them play in hundreds of albums.

Their first, self-titled album, Sky, included several tracks written by Francis: ´Cannonball´, ´Westway´ (co-written with Herbie) and the great, long (19:22) track ´Where opposites meet´. A fantastic debut album. It also includes modern arrangements on works by Erik Satie or Pipo. Some CD releases include an additional track written by Francis, ´Dies Irae´.

After a very succesful tour in 1979, the band released their next album, Sky 2. It was a double LP. Beware, it has been reissued on CD, but it misses two tracks: ´Gavotte & variations´ (by Rameau) and ´Andante´ (based on Vivaldi), as well as the very interesting liner notes written by the members. What can I say about this album? This is the album that turned me into Francis work. Again, a long (17:12), fantastic track, ´FIFO´, written by Francis. Ah, it also includes a new rendition of Curved Air's classic tune, ´Vivaldi´.

But after a new tour, Francis leaves the band, somewhere in 1980 (or was maybe around summer 1981?), after the recordings for their third album were scheduled.

From his session days, Francis recorded several library albums. Sometime later, one of them was released under the Energism name, although it was never intended to be released on its own.

After leaving Sky, Francis has never belonged to another band, although he has been always playing, of course. First step was releasing a solo album, Dweller on the threshold. Recorded with help from Andy Latimer (guitar, from Camel), Dave Dowle (drums, vocals, from Streetwalkers and Whitesnake), Darryl Way (violin), Juan Martin (guitar), Mike Giles (drums, from King Crimson), Tom Nichol (drums), Tristan Fry (percussion), as well as some featured vocalists: Graham Layden, Jools Rathbone, Peter Plant, etc. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios on May 1981.

As far as I know, he has recorded at least a dozen library albums, but I only know a few ones: one in 1984 and another one in 1992 (Virtual classics, including Tristan Fry. Most tracks are from Francis, but some other are by Graham Preskett). They aren't available for now.

After the album, he returned to his classical roots. He has been playing with flamenco guitarist Juan Martin, as well playing solo concerts featuring works by Mozart or Beethoven.

JUAN MARTIN GROUP

Juan Martin spoke to Francis Monkman about forming a fusion band, but this happened when Sky was getting started. They kept in touch and sometime later, they played one gig together at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London:

As I've said before, Francis got more involved with classical music, having played several recitals (mostly all-Bach), including one in 1996 at Westminster Cathedral.

AND NOW?...

Francis Monkman and his beautiful transparent guitar

That's where the good news arrive! Francis released a brand new album! It's called 21st Century Blues, and it's credited to Francis Monkman & The Virtuous-Realiti Band. With help from Jools Rathbone on vocals (in the ´Another day´ track). It comprises 14 tracks, and it's a very interesting, innovative, surprising and unusual album. It can be ordered from Francis Monkman's own web site, at at http://www.afkm.com.

And now, some conclusions from my own: the album is fantastic, although it needs to be listened carefully many times before starting ´recognizing´ the songs. That is, it’s NOT an easy album, but it is definitely worth the effort. You're getting more and more from it every new listening, and that's something that you can't say about many ´instant´, ´fast-food´ albums.

For people that usually consider Francis Monkman as a keyboardist, the biggest surprise comes when you realize the album is guitar-based. Lots of guitars flow through the tracks. Of course, there are many keyboards, as well as bass and drums and some other instruments, but this shows how clearly Francis has rediscovered his love for guitars. We shouldn't forget he was the one who played all the guitar parts on Curved Air first albums, sharing both tasks (keyboards and guitars) live on stage. For quite obvious reasons, Francis didn´t use guitar while in Sky (even though he also played guitar in their great suite, ´FIFO´, written by Francis), and although he invited Andy Latimer (from Camel) to play guitar in his first solo album, the magnificent Dweller on the threshold (great songs, and great guest players: members of King Crimson, Whitesnake, Camel, Curved Air and Sky), now he has decided it was time to play guitar again. Believe me, you can't but being happy for this decision, after listening to the album.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Francis has lots of projects on the way. He has also worked up an idea he'd started working on in the early '80s, originally sequenced on synth, for orchestra and synth. It's called Urdance, something of the sound/harmonic world of Sacre. A reworking is due, this time with less 'live instrumentation', it's quite a piece (the orch version expanded to 33 minutes -- an 'internal ballet', he subtitled it).

He also has some recorded works, and they'll probably be available some day from his website, so check it often often (http://www.afkm.com).

SOUNDTRACKS CREDITED TO HIM

In 1979, long before he quit Sky, Francis composed and played the music for the British movie The long good Friday. Directed by John MacKenzie. Starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, you can also find Pierce Brosnan (Bond ... James Bond). The musicians who play here are: Francis Monkman (keyboards), plus his bandmates in Sky: Kevin Peek (guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass), Tristan Fry (drums). Also with the late ones Tommy Eyre (keyboards) and Ron Aspery (sax, from Back Door with Colin Hodgkinson).

He also wrote the music for The Innocent, another movie directed by John MacKenzie. Starring Liam Neeson (´Schindler's List´ or ´Star Wars, episode I´), Jennifer O'Neill (´Summer of ´42´) and Miranda Richardson. Unfortunately, it wasn't released as an album, so you can only listen to the music while watching the movie.

UNRELEASED PROJECTS:

While Mick Grabham was in the band, Francis Monkman was asked to audition for Procol Harum, but the thing didn´t materialize.

Francis Monkman was asked to join Rainbow by Ritchie Blackmore´s manager, but he finally declined.

Comments:
In 1979, long before he quit Sky, Francis Monkman composed and played the music for the British movie The long good Friday. Directed by John MacKenzie. Starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren, you can also find Pierce Brosnan (Bond ... James Bond). The musicians who play here are: Francis Monkman (keyboards), plus his bandmates in Sky: Kevin Peek (guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass), Tristan Fry (drums). Also with Tommy Eyre (piano), Ron Aspery (sax, from Back Door with Colin Hodgkinson).

Comments:
Brian Bennett has been The Shadows drummer for several decades (after replacing original drummer, Tony Meehan in October 1961). The album has the subtitle: "a journey into discoid funk". As well as Brian Bennett playing all kinds of percussion, the album features Francis Monkman on keyboards and Alan Jones. The synthesizers were programmed and realized by Francis. This album was reissued as a 2in1CD album, along with Rock dreams album (Dec 97, SeeForMiles).

Comments:
Three parts of the Sky band here: John Williams (guitar), Herbie Flowers (bass) and Francis Monkman (keyboards). Also with Laurence Juber (guitar), Les Thatcher (guitar), Richard Harvey (recorder, from Gryphon), Stuart Elliott (drums), Barry Morgan (drums). Francis wrote the title track, and this succesful venture was the seed for Sky.

Comments:
This was the album released by the band after their first major change in the original lineup (no original members already here). With the superb Annie Haslam (vocals), Jon Camp (bass, guitar), John Tout (keyboards), Terence Sullivan (drums). Francis Monkman plays keyboards in one (lenghty) song, ´Rajah Khan´.

Comments:
A very good singer, in this album he's backed by part of Bob Marley band, as well as by John ´Rabbit´ Bundrick, who writes some songs here. Francis Monkman also plays synthesizer and bass guitar along the whole album, although uncredited. CD reissue from 2011 contains 2 bonus tracks.

Comments:
This is a double disc comprising interviews with the members of The Beatles. The only music appearing here doesn´t feature the group, but Francis Monkman, Ann Odell, Graham Smith and Gavyn Wright performing short fragments, all arranged and conducted by Martyn Ford.

Comments:
He was famous because of having been the engineer for Beatles and Pink Floyd. He started his succesful career as an artist, under the nickname Alan Parsons Project. It was really a duo, with Eric Woolfson (though, currently, Eric doesn't collaborates with Alan any more). Not forgetting about great orchestrations by Andrew Powell. As a famous engineer and producer, Alan called many of his friends to play and sing in his albums. This, their first album, was based on Edgar Allan Poe poems. Here, we can find: Arthur Brown (vocals), Orson Welles (narration. Yes! the actor!), Terry Sylvester (vocals, ex-Hollies), John Miles (vocals, guitar), Laurence Juber (guitar, later in Wings), Francis Monkman (keyboards), Andrew Powell (keyboards). From Pilot (Alan was Pilot's producer): Ian Bairnson (guitar), David Paton (bass), the late Billy Lyall (keyboards) and Stuart Tosh (drums). From Ambrosia (yes, also produced by Alan): David Pack (guitar), Joe Puerta (bass), Christopher North (keyboards), Burleigh Drummond (drums). Some CD reissues contain 2 bonus tracks plus a radio spot and an interview.

Comments:
She has a great voice and talent. This was her second album, and although not as succesful as the 1st one, it contained great songs. Produced by Andrew Powell. With the great Ian Bairnson (guitar), David Paton (bass), Francis Monkman (keyboards), Duncan Mackay (keyboards), Stuart Elliott (drums), Charlie Morgan (drums).

Comments:
This was the soundtrack from the movie starring Peter Frampton and The Bee Gees. As many musical movies, it has its ups and downs, as no every performer was a real singer (Steve Martin, for example). But it has its fine moments. Originally a 2LP (my copy includes a big (& ugly) poster), it has 28 tracks, all of them written by The Beatles. Arranged and produced by George Martin, it features Billy Preston, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith or Paul Nicholas. But the great thing is when you check the credits list. With great surprises there. The regular musicians team comprises: Robert Ahwai (guitar), Peter Frampton (guitar solos), Wilbur Bascomb (bass), Max Middleton (keyboards), Bernard Purdie (drums), + Tower of Power Horn Section: Greg Adams (trumpet), Emilio Castillo (sax), Mick Gillette (trombone, trumpet), Steve Doc Kupka (sax), Lenny Pickett (sax). That is, many former Jeff Beck bandmates. And the list of featured guests is: Jeff Beck (guitar), the superb Larry Carlton (guitar), Ricky Hitchcock (guitar), Ray Russell (guitar), Fred Tackett (guitar), Clive Chaman (bass), Francis Monkman (keyboards), Ray Cooper (percussion), Victor Feldman (percussion), and from Toto: David Hungate (bass), David Paich (keyboards) and Jeff Porcaro (drums).

Comments:
Blonde on Blonde were a female duo: Nina Carter and Frankie Ward. Great musicians list: Nigel Jenkins (guitar), Alan Jones (bass), Dave Markee (bass), Jerome Rimson (bass), Francis Monkman (keyboards), Dave Lawson (keyboards), Frank Ricotti (percussion), Pete Van Hooke (drums), Graham Jarvis (drums), and on backing vocals: Chris Rainbow, Stephanie De Sykes and Claire Terry. It includes a rendition of Led Zeppelin's ´Whole lotta love´ (it was released as a single, I also have it!), and one song, ´Woman is free´, was from the soundtrack of a movie called Golden lady. Recorded in the summer of 1979 in London.

Comments:
A superb band. Andy Latimer, his leader and guitarist, plays in one of Francis solo albums. This album is produced by Tony Clark and Haydn Bendall, who also were Sky's producers. The list of musicians is very interesting: Andy Latimer (guitar, vocals, flute), Chris Rainbow (vocals), the fantastic Anthony Phillips (he was the original guitarist in Genesis), Peter Bardens (keyboards), Duncan Mackay (keyboards), David Paton (bass), Simon Phillips (drums), Dave Mattacks (drums), Graham Jarvis (drums). Francis Monkman plays in one song.

RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 21
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Francis Monkman, please, also write me with the link.